UPHEAVAL

8 years ago

Bahrain King Declares State of Emergency

At least 200 people were injured and two men killed in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, Tuesday as the battle for control of the strategic Middle Eastern kingdom continued to rage and the king declared a state of emergency. Witnesses said the deaths were a result of a “coordinated” attack by government forces and not the result of skirmishes, while the government has accused the protesters of running over and killing a member of the security forces. A longtime U.S. ally, Bahrain is located between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran insists that the tiny monarchy is historically a part of Iran, one of the many reasons Iran criticized Monday’s arrival of Saudi troops. The White House called for “calm and restraint on all sides,” while a top American diplomat made an unplanned visit to the country Tuesday.